integrating environmental justice as a critical function in addressing environmental public health...

8/12/2019 Integrating Environmental Justice as a Critical Function in Addressing Environmental Public Health Concerns by Suzanne K. Condon

1/21

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa



aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Integrating Environmental Justice as aCritical Function in Addressing

Environmental Public Health Concerns

Suzanne K. Condon, Associate Commissioner

Director, Bureau of Environmental Health

Massachusetts Department of Public Health


2/21

Table of ContentsI. Introduction: Addressing Environmental Justice as a

Routine Activity in Environmental Health

II. The Massachusetts Environmental Public Health

Tracking Program

III. Case Examples: Use of Local Data to Drive Policy

IV. Empowering Advocates and Local Government toTake Action

V. Summary

2


3/21

I. IntroductionThe Bureau of Environmental Health has a broad

mission of protecting the public health from avariety of environmental exposures. The Bureau

responds to environmental health concerns andprovides communities with epidemiologic andtoxicological health assessments

The Bureau comprises nine programs

The Bureau also ensures regulatory compliancerelated to food and radiation safety, as well as thestate sanitary codeas the state sanitary code.

3


4/21

Addressing Environmental Justice (EJ) as aRoutine Activity in Environmental Health inMA

Massachusetts is the only state in the country withcomprehensive pediatric asthma data for grades K-8 (100

percent reporting from all schools in MA)

The Massachusetts Lead Law requires universal screeningfor blood lead levels in all children up to age three;Massachusetts regulations also call for children in high-riskcommunities to be tested up to age four

Because the effects of climate change will likely have adisproportionate affect on EJ populations, our department isworking with health officials to ensure local adaptation

planning considers our most vulnerable populations

4


5/21

Addressing Environmental JusticeContinued Large facility siting decisions (e.g. proposed power plant) often

involve siting facilities in EJ communities; our toxicologistsconsider existing disease burden among vulnerable populationswhen providing comments

Our housing inspectors enforce minimum standards for housingthat can be more problematic in EJ communities, and notably inmigrant farm worker housing, due to negligent landlords

Educating residents in EJ communities about health risksassociated with certain fish consumed by recreationalsubsistence fishers from contaminated waters is an important

environmental health outreach activity

Cancer investigations for some cancer types, e.g. breast cancer,may be affected by differing screening rates (e.g. breast cancerincidence could appear low due to late stage diagnosis amongunder-served populations). For that reason, staff routinely look

at both incidence and mortality data

5


6/21

6

II. Massachusetts Environmental Public Health

Tracking Portal

The MassachusettsPortal includes CDCrequired health andenvironmental data

Additionally, the

Massachusetts Portalcontains some specialfeatures (e.g. cancermapping tool)


7/21

7

Visualization and Integration of Spatial Data

Physical Geography

Infrastructure

Aerial Photography

Environmental

Contamination

Health Outcomes


8/21

8


9/21

III. Case Examples: Use of Local Data

to Drive Policy

Blood lead poisoning data

Pediatric Asthma

9


10/21

Application of Environmental Justice

Indicators: High Risk Communities forElevated Blood Lead Levels

High Risk Communities

--% below moderate income (


11/21

11


12/21

12


13/21

13

Springfield Biomass

o MDPH was contacted by community residents concerned about a

proposed new energy facility to be sited in their neighborhood in

Springfield, MA

o The facility proponents planned to burn construction and demolition

debris as fuel for the biomass facility

o An important concern about the proposed fuel for the facility (C&D

waste) was that these wastes contained heavy metals and other

pollutants that could negatively impact air quality in the neighborhood

o In response MDPH reviewed pediatric asthma data among school

children in the schools located closest to the proposed facility site


14/21


15/21

IV. Empowering Advocates and

Local Government to Take Action

EPHT data can be used to provide

baseline health status of a neighborhoodor community

Baseline health status then can influence

policy decisions related to

environmental issues

15


16/21

16

In May of 2007 examined pediatric asthma

prevalence from four elementary schools (complex

of 1,800 students) located mile from the

proposed site

3 out of 4 schools at the complex had pediatric

asthma rates statistically significantly higher than

the statewide rate

MDPH/BEH evaluated proponents estimate of

impacts on community for facility related

emissions and recommended a number of

additional analyses to better characterize potential

impact

MDPH/BEH also recommended that various

mitigation efforts to reduce the proposed impacts

should be considered once the more refined impact

estimates were determined

Unfortunately, in large part due to the economic

decline, this project did not go forward

Issue: Community residents asked public health officials to address their concerns regardingpotential exposures related to facility operations (emissions, truck traffic, etc)

ChelseaProject Goal: Building a new ULSD peak energy facility in Chelsea, MA


17/21

17

Somerville, Massachusetts

MaxPak site consisted of two

large abandoned buildings and

railroad ties/line no longer inuse

Site located only yards away

from densely populated

residential neighborhood

Primary concerns raised by

state legislators related to

asbestos and other airborne

contaminants impacting

health of nearby residents

Issue:Nearby residents were concerned about railroad tie removal and building demolition at

MaxPak site and exposure to contaminants/ fugitive dust and impacts on health

Project Goal: Provide linkage through city of Somerville to connect with Minuteman bike trail to the

west and eventually be linked with the MA Central Rail Trail


18/21


19/21

19

Photograph

shows site

today; railroad

bed on one side

of site cleared

and ready forbike path

development.

Bike path also

leads to MBTA

subway system;

buildings havebeen

demolished and

site is ready for

residential

development

Somerville Continued


20/21

V. Summary

Evaluating health concerns related to potentialenvironmental exposure opportunities in EJcommunities should not be an "additional" set ofactivities but rather, should be a routine and everyday

part of environmental public health programs

It is important to identify and use local level health andenvironmental data to better inform local policy orregulatory decisions

CDCs National Environmental Public Health Trackingprogram aims to support state and city healthdepartments in providing ready public access to localhealth and environmental data through funding EPHT

portals, such as that of MA

20


21/21

Questions?

21

integrating environmental justice as a critical function in addressing environmental public health...

Documents